Creed Review: Rocky is Sidelined

Rocky is back for another bout in the movie ring, but thankfully he’s stepping to the side so someone else can have their own 12 rounds.

Adonis Creed is the new challenger, son of Apollo Creed, and all Apollo’s legacy sits on his shoulders. The film begins with Adonis’ mother coming to collect him from a youth offenders institute when he’s a kid and explain to him who he is. Then cut to older Adonis who now is trying to make it as boxer himself, but without using his father’s name. Eventually, Adonis figures out he needs to get himself a trainer, so who better than Rocky, the legend and Apollo’s mate. This is when things finally start to pick up and we get to see all the classic Rocky montages, we also have the standard stair climb!

The first fight comes with a boxer named Stuntman who trains in the same gym, and originally wanted Rocky to also train him, so there is a slight bitterness between the two fighters. The fight is over in one round, in the background we see Adonis already removing his gloves. His confidence reminded me of Tom Hardy’s character in Warrior, which is definitely worth a watch if you like brawler films!

The real showdown comes during the final fight between “Pretty” Ricky Conlan, a Liverpudlian fighter who sounds like he was trained by Steven Gerrard. They go round for round like a typical Rocky film, with an ending setting up Adonis as essentially the next Rocky.Michael B. Jordan plays the character of Adonis Creed well giving a standardly believable performance of a son who wants to step out of his father’s

Michael B. Jordan plays the character of Adonis Creed well giving a standardly believable performance of a son who wants to step out of his father’s shadow, while Stallone’s Rocky now essentially has become Mickey Goldmill, his own trainer from the first three Rocky films. Whereas Rocky Balboa seemed like a cash in on nostalgia, Creed actually seems like a viable sequel to the series, maybe it’s because it is the first one not writer or directed by Stallone himself, thus giving a fresh familiar feel.